5 things to know about e-cigarettes

VANCOUVER -- Parents and doctors questioning teens about whether they smoke should also be asking if they're using e-cigarettes, which could be a gateway to nicotine addiction later on, says a pediatrician who led a new study.

Dr. Michael Khoury's research involved nearly 2,300 students in Grade 9 in the Niagara region of Ontario.

Over 10% of them had used electronic cigarettes, said Khoury, though a national report funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and released earlier this year suggested the rate of Grade 9 students who have tried e-cigarettes is even higher.

Here are five things to know about e-cigarettes:

Fruit and candy flavourings in e-cigarette liquids are the number 1 reason they appeal to youth, and there are calls on the federal government to prohibit flavourings.

Groups concerned about the increasing popularity of vaping among youth want advertising that's currently in place for tobacco products to be extended to e-cigarettes.

Health risks associated with e-cigarettes are unclear, and more research is needed.

E-cigarettes are often marketed as smoking cessation devices but it's not known if they are effective in helping people kick the habit.